- Provide students with an understanding of the legal consequences of the inability of a company to meet its financial obligations and an understanding of the legal response to insolvency. The historical growth of these remedies are explored.

- To stimulate the academic and practical interest of students in the challenging area of the the law of corporate insolvency.

- To encourage and develop analytical thinking, using comprative study of legal authority where relevant.

- To enable the creation of effective solutions to (legally and factually) complex problems.

- To develop an effective argument, soundly based in critical analysis of the law

- To develop an effective argument, soundly based in critical analysis of the law both orally and in writing.

- To develop detailed knowledge of the law in all areas of corporate insolvency law, including, inter alia, liquidation, administration, receivership, company voluntary arrangements, schemes of arrang ement and secured lending.

- To enhance general legal and transferable skills in the context of the subject area of corporate insolvency law.

- To allow students to carry out independent tasks and research to a high level of aptitude.

(LO1) At the end of the module students will be able to critically evaluate the regimes intended to effect the rescue of a business in financial distress and the regimes under which the affairs of a failed business can be wound up.

(LO2) At the end of the module students will be able to apply the rules determining which assets of the insolvent business will be available for distribution to creditors and the principles governing the distribution in the solving of problem scenarios.

(LO3) At the end of the module students will be able to assess the circumstances in which those involved in the management of an insolvent business may be disqualified from holding company directorships.

(LO4) At the end of the module students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of corporate insolvency law principles.

(LO5) At the end of this module students should be able to develop a capacity to work independently to solve complex legal problems.

(LO6) At the end of this module students will be able to students should be able to use and understand complex statutory material, case law, and academic writing.

(LO7) At the end of this modules students will be able to present an effective argument in writing.

(LO8) At the end of this module students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of suitable legal reforms from both economic and social perspectives.

(S1) Digital scholarship participating in emerging academic, professional and research practices that depend on digital systems

(S2) Communication (oral and written) skills – students will be actively encouraged to actively participate in the group discussion in the seminar. This will help them develop oral communication skills. In the final assessment, students will be asked to write a critical essay on a challenging question. This will help students develop written communication skills.

(S3) Academic writing (including referencing) skills – students will develop this specific communication skill through writing the coursework.

(S4) Research skills – students will be asked to do independent research to engage with literature and other resources not directly recommended in the reading lists to prepare for the seminars and to write the coursework. This will help them develop independent research skills.

(S5) Research skills – students will be asked to do independent research to engage with literature and other resources not directly recommended in the reading lists to prepare for the seminars and to write the coursework. This will help them develop independent research skills.

(S6) Improving own learning, performance and reflective practice – for each seminar students will be provided with a set of questions which they will prepare answers for before the seminar. In the seminar, through group discussion, they will find out whether their answer was correct. This will help them develop skills to reflect on their understanding of how the law in question applies to specific problems.

Indicatively, subjects covered in any given year may include:
o The Corporate Insolvency Procedures ((1) Administration, (2) Company Voluntary Arrangements (CVAs), (3) Part 26A Schemes and Moratoriums, (4) Liquidation.)
o Insolvency Theory - The Logic and Limits of Bankruptcy Law with Thomas Jackson and Elizabeth Warren.
o Insolvency hot topics:
o The Rescue Culture
o COVID-19 and Insolvency
o Directors and Insolvency

Teaching Patterns

This module will be delivered through 11 lectures, 4 seminars, and one assessment workshop. These will be live on campus sessions for the lectures, the seminars and the workshop.

Module Delivery
Lectures:
There will be 11 face to face lectures of two hours duration. These will take place at the University.

Seminars:
Seminars will be arranged as 4 x 1.5 hr sessions. These will take place at the University.

Workshop:
2 hr workshop – assessment preparation. This will take place at the University.